[EBH]

Many workers feel the change would be a first step in eroding France’s social benefits — which include long vacations, contracts that make it hard for employers to lay off workers and a state-subsidized health care system — in favor of “American-style capitalism.”

[Lurker]

There's only one proper, moral way to deal with rioters.

Shoot them.

L

[ClearCase_guy]

Outside the capital, hooded youths smashed store windows amid clouds of tear gas.

A key thing to note, I think, is that the retirement age is being raised from 60 to 62 -- and a whole bunch of twenty-somethings are rioting because of it.

That may seem odd, but it's related to the job situation. France has a huge under-employment problem, and if the Baby Boomers don't retire, the young people have no hope of getting work.

[GonzoGOP]

Riot officers in the Paris suburb of Nanterre and the southeastern city of Lyon sprayed tear gas but appeared unable to stop the violence.

Napoleon gained fame for quelling riots and breaking up violent protests and strikes. He said afterword that all that was necessary to clear the streets of Paris was to give them a "Whiff of grapeshot". A mist of tear gas is not nearly as effective in dispersing a mob as twelve pounds of iron shot moving at high velocity.